Bolt adapter for lubricating purposes



Feb. 9 1926.

1,572,073 c. P. MURPHY BOLT ADAPTER FOR LUBRIGATING PURPOSES OriginalFiled Sept. 25, 1922 e /5 E, m /z flay/1 I .\'l 'ENTOK.

Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

ED STTE i T F FlC CHARLES P. MURPHY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

BOLT ADAPTER FOR LUBRICATING PURPOSES.-

Original application filed September 25, 1922, Serial No. 590,246.Divided and this application filed August 13, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Bolt Adapters for LubricatingPurposes, of which the following is a specification, the principle .ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it.

from other inventions.

This invention relates to a. bolt adapter for lubricating purposes andis carved outof my copending application for United States LettersPatent, Serial No. 590,246, filed September 25, 1922, upon a bolt adater for lubricating purposes. Said copen ing application discloses twospecific forms of construction and the present application is limited toone of said forms. More particu larly the present invention comprisesmeans to be used in conjunction with the usual standard form of headedsteel bolts to adapt 2 the same to distribute lubrication to theiradjacent parts.

' The invention is particularly suited for use in connection with thecenter bolts for automobile springs, which may be thus adapted to serveas means for distributing lubrication to the spring leaves.

It has heretofore been attempted to provide for the lubrication ofspring leave." through passagewsTys adjacent the center bolts but ineach such instance the structure of the parts has been greatly modified.

For example, channel ways have been provided in the spring leaves andgrooves and tubular passageways have been formed in the nut or upon thesurface of the bolt, and

the use of numerous auxiliary parts for carvrying the lubrication hasbeen necessary. Such special constructions are expensive to manufactureand install and in many instances the spring structure itself is greatlyweakened.

It is the object .of my invention to avoid the necessity of usingspecial forms of spring leaves, or center bolts, or nuts there- 60 for,and to adapt the usual standard forms Serial No. 50,106.

of springs and center fastening bolts and nuts to adequately serve asmeans for the distribution of lubricant, particularly in connection withlubricating systems wherein a pressure grease gun is used. This is madepossible by the fact that spring leaves of standard type are slightlyconcave on their upper and lower surfaces and by the further fact thatthe holes through the centers of the spring leaves are slightly largerthan the standard center bolts used to hold such leaves assembled. Thusthere is a passageway for grease formed between each pair of springleaves and a like passageway for grease to flow into such first namedpassageways along the outer surface of the standard spring bolt. To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then,consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple. of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ofa vehicle spring showing a center bolt adapted to serve as a means fordistributing lubricant Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of thedome-shaped member through which the lubrication is introduced, and Fig.3 is a plan view of the gashot employed under the dome-shaped member.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, a bolt 1 of the standard type, positionedcentrally of an antomobile-leaf spring 2 and having a head 3, shank 4,and screw threaded end "5, upon which latter a nut 6 is adapted toengage, is provided at one end between the. head of the bolt and theadjacent leaf 7 of the spring, with an annular gasket 8, and upon itsother end between the, nut 6 and the outer leaf 9 of the spring, with adome shaped member 10 provided upon one side thereof with ascrew-threaded opening 11 into which is screwed a lubricating nipple orgrease gun attachment 12, of any preferred type.

The dome-shaped member 10 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided upon its endfaces with annular sealing askets 13, 14. In some instances such gas:ets may be dispensed with as when the dome-shaped member itself is madeof soft brass or similar metal.

In order to insure a free passageway at the base of the dome-shapedmember, the latter is preferably provided with an extension edge 1O atits inner side around which the gasket 14 is positioned, as is shown inFi 1. However, the same result may be attained without using suchextension edge by providing the gasket l t with a scalloped inner edge14: as is shown in Fig. 3.

Internally of the. upper portion of said member, screw threads 15 areProvided for engagement upon the screw threaded end of the bolt and thelower end 16 is enlarged into a chamber of suflicient diameter for thewalls thereof to be spaced a considerable distance from the shank of thebolt thus providing therein a lubricating receptacle and distributingspace 17. The domeshaped member 10 may be of hexagonal cross sectionthroughout all of its length or for the portion 18 thereof (as is shownin Fig. 2), so as to permit-it to be engaged by a wrench and firmlyseated against the outside surface of the adjacent leaf of the spring.The nut 6. of the bolt thus serves as a lock nut against the interposedgasket 13. It is common practice to pein the end of the bolt against theouter surface of the nut where a lock nut is not used.

From the above description the operation of the device has beenindicated in part. Thus the nozzle of a grease gun is attached to thenipple 12 and pressure is applied to the grease in the cylinder of thegun in the usual manner. This causes rease to flow through the. nozzle,forcing ack the ball valve 1n the nipple 12, and then fill the chamber17 in the dome-shaped member and thence flow downwardly along the outersurface of the bolt and into the spaces between adjacent pairs of springleaves. The gasket seated against the inner face of the bolt headprevents the escape of grease at the lower end of the bolt.

It will be noted that all that is required to convert the standard formof fasteningbolt into a device for pressure lubrication are the severalgaskets and the dome-shaped member carrying the nipple on one side. Itmay be that a longer bolt than that found in the spring may have to beused therefor but such bolts are always obtainable and the applicationof the accessory devices to the springs of an automobile is a simple andquickly performed operation. By reason 01 the large grease containingchamber in the dome-shaped member being in direct communication with thepassageways between the spring leaves a sufficient body of grease ,toproperly lubricate the spring may be maintained in a position to beeffective. \Vith devices wherein small apertures are formed upon theface or through the body of a bolt head or nut, the clogging of suchpassageways is almost certain to result and the device in consequencewill be rendered inoperative.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of: the one explained, change being made as regards thestructure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim' as myinvention 1. An apparatus of the character described, having incombination a. leaf spring, a securing bolt extending therethrough, andhaving a screw-threaded end projecting therebeyond, a member open. atits under side'to provide a lubricating receptacle and distributingspace, and having a screw-threaded aperture extending centrallycompletely through its upper portion and engaged upon saidscrew-threaded en of said bolt to secure the same in position and avalved nipple seated in an opening formed in the side of said memberthrough which lubricant may be introduced into said lubricatingreceptacle and distributing space and about said bolt.

2. A bolt securing and lubricating device comprising a member open atits under side to provide a lubricating receptacle and distributingspace, and having a screw-threaded aperture extending centrallycompletely through its upper portion to permit the screw-threaded end ofa standard bolt to project therethrough, said member having an openingat its side, and a valved nip le seated in said opening through whichlubricant may be introduced into said lubricating rece tacle anddistributing space and about said olt.

3. A bolt securing and lubricating device comprising a member open atits under side to provide a lubricating receptacle and distributingspace, and having a screw threaded aperture extending centrallycompletely through its upper portion to permit the screw-threaded end ofa standard bolt to project therethrough, said member having an openingat its side, a valved nipple seated in said openin through whichlubricant may be introduce into the interior of said member and aboutsaid bolt, and a olygo nal exterior surface formed on said member topermit engagement by a wrench.

4. A bolt securing and lubricating device, comprising a member open atits under side to provide a lubricating receptacle and distributingspace, and having a screw-threaded aperture extending centrallycompletely through its upper portion to permit the 5 screw-threaded endof a. standard bolt to project therethrough, said member havinganopening at its side, a valved nipple seated in said openin throughwhich lubricant may be introduced into the interior of said member andabout said bolt, and means 1 provided at the base of said member forcentering a gasket adjacent thereto.

Signed by me this 17th day of July, 1925.

CHARLES P. MURPHY.

